First Apartment Adventures: Unpacking, Painting, and Our ‘Before’ Tour

Well, the boxes are (mostly) gone, and we have officially settled into our new apartment! The past two weeks have genuinely been a whirlwind, a beautiful blur of excitement, exhaustion, and the satisfying feeling of building a new home. We’re incredibly fortunate to have supportive parents living nearby, which allowed us to embark on our moving journey at a somewhat leisurely pace. Instead of a frantic, single-day dash, we opted to gradually transport our belongings over several days, making the first official overnight stay in the apartment feel like a well-earned milestone. Can you believe it’s already been almost two weeks since that first night?

The Marathon Move: From Packed Boxes to Our New Doorstep

Our official moving efforts kicked off on a busy Friday. After renting a spacious 14-foot U-Haul, the real work began. It involved countless trips back and forth between our two previous homes, navigating stairs and tight corners, and meticulously maneuvering everything from bulky mattresses and heavy dressers to every single cherished belonging up a daunting three-story walk-up. The sheer physical exertion was immense, leaving us thoroughly tired, to say the least. We were incredibly lucky to have the invaluable assistance of Connor’s dad – my own parents, at that point, had already flown off for a well-deserved trip to Scotland. His help was truly indispensable, saving us untold hours and a fair amount of back pain.

After what felt like an endless cycle of lifting, carrying, and climbing, punctuated by several mosquito bites, drips of sweat, and a few minor bruises, we finally had almost everything inside. It’s during moments like these that you truly grasp how much ‘stuff’ you accumulate over time. And this was just the bare essentials! We had strategically packed only what was absolutely necessary for the first few weeks, yet the volume still seemed overwhelming. The weight of each box, the awkwardness of every piece of furniture, and the sheer number of trips up those stairs really put into perspective the physical demands of moving. It’s a testament to teamwork and sheer determination.

A Well-Deserved Reward: Indulging After the Heavy Lift

Remarkably, we managed to conquer the most physically demanding part of the moving process – all the heavy lifting – in approximately four intensive hours. That feeling of accomplishment, mixed with profound exhaustion, was palpable. As anyone who has ever moved knows, you truly don’t realize the sheer quantity of possessions you own until you have to pack them all up and transport them. This initial phase was solely about getting the foundational items into our new space.

By the time the last major item was through the door, we were all absolutely starving. There’s a certain primal hunger that only a day of intense physical labor can induce. We decided to reward our efforts with a much-anticipated trip to BGR: Burger Joint, conveniently located just a few hundred yards from our new place. This spot is a true gem, offering a tempting array of grain-fed beef burgers in various creative configurations, alongside incredible hand-cut fries. You can choose from Yukon gold, sweet potato, or asparagus fries, topped with your preference of roasted garlic, rosemary, or parmesan. After hours of strenuous work, this place felt like a dangerous but irresistible oasis!

If there’s ever a time you genuinely deserve a hearty burger and a mountain of fries, moving day undoubtedly tops the list. I devoured everything in front of me, washing it down with several huge glasses of water to combat the stifling Washington D.C. humidity. The rest of that day was a blur of unpacking, more unpacking, and even more unpacking. I have a strong aversion to living out of suitcases and being surrounded by boxes, so I tackled the task with fierce determination, driven by a powerful urge to feel settled as quickly as humanly possible. The sight of unpacked boxes fills me with a particular kind of dread, so my mission was to eradicate them. Consequently, I was absolutely exhausted by day’s end, but with a significant dent made in our unpacking mountain.

Transforming Spaces: The Art of Painting Before Unpacking

As if the moving process wasn’t challenging enough, Connor and I decided to further extend the torture by tackling the bedroom painting project first thing the very next morning – at 8 AM, no less! While painting is often the last thing anyone feels like doing after moving into a new place, here’s a crucial piece of advice for anyone planning a move: I highly, highly recommend painting your rooms before fully unpacking. It’s a painful but worthwhile endeavor.

Prior to our move, we picked up several small containers of paint samples in colors we liked. We meticulously painted swatches on the bedroom wall, observing them at various times throughout the day and under different lighting conditions – both natural sunlight and artificial lamps. This allowed us to confidently select our chosen shade by moving day. And let me tell you, having an empty bedroom for painting was an absolute dream. We didn’t have to fret about accidentally getting paint on furniture or the hassle of moving heavy items out of the way. We efficiently applied two coats of paint in roughly three hours on Saturday morning, despite my occasional grumbling and several muttered remarks about “this is why people pay good money to hire professional painters.” The immediate transformation of the room, however, made every stroke worth it, instantly making the space feel more personalized and inviting.

A Glimpse Inside: Our New Apartment’s ‘Before’ Tour

Now, without further ado, we are thrilled to offer you a virtual tour of our apartment as it looked on moving day, prior to us bringing in all our belongings and injecting our personal style. These are the “before” pictures, capturing the blank canvas we were eager to transform. Get ready to see the raw potential!

The Living Room: First Impressions and Future Potential

(Living Room – This view is from the front door, offering a full perspective of the main living space. The door to the left of the large window opens onto our lovely balcony, promising future relaxation. To the far left, you can glimpse the dining area, with a clear doorway leading into the kitchen. It’s a wonderfully open and airy space, ready for cozy furniture and vibrant decor.)

The Kitchen: Functionality and Unexpected Finds

(Kitchen – Stepping in from the doorway, this shot reveals a functional and well-equipped kitchen. The window here overlooks a part of the balcony, bringing in natural light. We were especially pleased to find it complete with a dishwasher and, crucially for us, a gas stove – a definite upgrade from previous electric models we’ve encountered! This promises many delicious meals to come.)

(Kitchen – This perspective is taken from the wall to the left of the window, offering a different angle on the counter space and cabinetry. A fantastic bonus: we managed to purchase the microwave from the previous tenants for a mere $10! A true bargain that saved us a trip to the store and some initial setup hassle.)

(Kitchen – Here, we see the wall opposite the stove and dishwasher, currently quite bare but full of potential. Another excellent find from the previous tenants was this basically brand-new Ikea kitchen cart, which we snagged for just $65. It’s already proving to be a fantastic addition for extra storage and counter space.)

The Dining Area & Hallways: Connecting Spaces

(Dining Area – This central space is directly adjacent to the living room and kitchen, making it perfect for entertaining. We already have ambitious plans to brighten and personalize this area, and some progress has already been made! To the left, a hallway leads to the bathrooms and culminates at the master bedroom. To the right, another doorway opens into the second bedroom, which we intend to use as an office.)

The Second Bedroom/Office: A Multifunctional Space

(Second Bedroom/Office: This room was a striking blue color when we moved in, a legacy from the previous tenants. It will serve as our versatile second bedroom and home office. Another fantastic hand-me-down from the previous tenants was the Target desk on the right – completely FREE! We’re also thrilled about a unique feature: a blackboard closet door, which you can see in the image below. It’s an inspiring touch for a creative workspace.)

The Bathrooms: A Pop of Pink (and Beige)

(Master Bath: There are truly no words to adequately describe this. Yes, that is unmistakably pink! The master bathroom features a delightful array of pink tiles and fixtures. The second hallway bathroom is styled similarly but in a more muted beige tone. While there isn’t much we can do to change the inherent color scheme of the tiling, we’re simply grateful to have two clean, functional bathrooms. It’s a luxury we certainly appreciate, regardless of the vibrant color choices!)

Did I mention it was pink? It really stands out!

The Main Hallway & Master Bedroom Retreat

(Hallway: This image captures the hallway leading into our spacious master bedroom. The door immediately to the left opens into the aforementioned (pink) bathroom, while the door further down on the left provides access to a fantastic walk-in closet. Again, we have absolutely no complaints about the ample storage and thoughtful layout here!)

(Master Bedroom: Measuring a generous 15 x 13 feet, this room offers plenty of space. This particular photograph was taken before we applied our fresh coat of paint. Initially, all the rooms in the apartment (with the exception of the second bedroom’s blue) were painted in a standard, slightly off-white hue. It was a blank canvas awaiting our personal touch.)

The Walk-In Closet & Balcony: Unexpected Luxuries

(Walk-In Closet: This is truly a dream feature! I honestly don’t even have enough clothes to fill this generous space yet, but I’m quickly starting to understand why so many people are utterly obsessed with walk-in closets. This apartment, to our immense delight, is chock-full of fantastic storage solutions everywhere you look – a definite win for keeping things organized!)

(Balcony: Our private outdoor retreat! The window on the right in this image looks directly into the kitchen, providing a nice connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. This balcony has already undergone a major transformation, being upgraded and warmed up to become a truly inviting spot for morning coffee or evening relaxation. We’re excited about its potential as an extension of our living space.)

Our Apartment Journey Continues: Looking Forward to the “After”

We hope you thoroughly enjoyed this “before” tour of our new apartment! It’s been an incredible journey so far, from the initial chaos of moving to the exciting process of personalizing each space. We’re already planning and executing many more changes to make this apartment truly feel like home. Please stay tuned, as we’ll be back very soon with an abundance of “after” photos, along with updates on our progress. You won’t believe how different it looks already!